References to: tongues

Question: Many people in our fellowship have visited other churches. Some have spoken in tongues. Are members allowed to speak in tongues?

Answer: Yes. Speaking in tongues is a New Testament practice, described as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Members may worship as the Spirit leads them. However, they should keep in mind that the Spirit does not lead to confusion, nor to division. Speaking in tongues should not be done in a situation in which others will be offended, frightened or made uncomfortable, such as in a regular worship service.

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What did first-century believers do
in their worship meetings? The Bible gives us only a few glimpses into the
details. Paul gives a description in 1 Corinthians 14:26: “When you come
together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a
tongue or an interpretation.” Every believer had a part to play, each according
to the way that God had gifted them.

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"My friends, you asked me about spiritual gifts," Paul wrote the Corinthian Christians (1 Corinthians 12:1; quotes are from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1991, American Bible Society). "I want you to desire the best gifts" (verse 31).

The Corinthians desired spiritual gifts. Paul took this opportunity to emphasize the spiritual gifts that would best serve the entire community of believers. "If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church" (1 Corinthians 14:12).

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Chapter Two

On Paul's second major journey to preach the gospel to gentiles, he went into Europe, preaching briefly in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Athens (Acts 16:12-17:15).

In Corinth, however, Paul spent a year and a half (Acts 18:1, 9-11) — a long stay for an apostle who was "constantly on the move" (2 Corinthians 11:26). Corinth was a seaport city with a reputation for immorality. There Paul found Jews and gentiles who wanted to be taught the Word of God.

1994

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Chapter 1: JESUS' PROMISE

"What you are seeing is real," a church member told the visitor. "These people are filled with the Holy Spirit." The visitor was seeing a hundred men and women speaking in tongues, raising their hands in the air and singing praises. It was real, not imaginary — but were these people really filled with the Holy Spirit?, he wondered.

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Answer: We are not a pentecostal church, nor would we describe ourselves as charismatic. Since the word charismatic comes from the Greek word for gifts, some would classify us as charismatic simply because we believe in spiritual gifts, including the miraculous ones such as healing. But because we do not permit tongues-speaking in our worship services, some might classify us as "non-tongues-speaking charismatic."